Man arrested for setting fire to NY state trooper’s childhood home after receiving traffic tickets

MIDDLETWON, N.Y. (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A 26-year-old man was arrested for allegedly setting a state trooper’s childhood home on fire after receiving multiple traffic tickets, Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler announced Thursday.

Tyler Williams was arrested and charged with arson, officials said.

According to court documents, on the evening of Dec. 20, 2023, Williams was pulled over in Middletown by a New York State Trooper and issued traffic tickets.

Early the next morning, a fire was started at the home of the Trooper’s father in Warwick.

During an investigation that spanned almost five months, officials executed over twenty judicially-authorized search warrants, largely focused on digital forensics, as well as numerous subpoenas.

The investigation revealed that in the hours after being issued the traffic tickets by the Trooper and before setting the fire, Williams utilized various search websites in an effort to learn the address of the Trooper.

Williams was later arrested. He is scheduled for a conference on May 21.

"Law enforcement officers, who are the backbone of the safety of our community, must be protected for doing the dangerous work that they do," said DA Hoovler. "Our community will not permit such horrifying conduct as is alleged in this case to go unchecked. My Office will dedicate every resource available to ensuring that this defendant is held to account for his alleged crimes. We stand in lockstep with our law enforcement partners to ensure the safety of police officers. I commend the dedicated and tireless work done by all of the law enforcement agencies involved in this intensive investigation. This case represents every police officer’s worst nightmare and we will not rest until justice is done."